Steve Rustad illuminates issues and dissects politics

The stammering from Brussels about the recent terror attack in Bulgaria is further proof that the Europeans haven't abandoned their double standard when it comes to the way they treat Israel and the way they coddle the Arab and/or Muslim countries, political groups and terrorist organizations that have beleaguered the [...]

My how the worm turns. Two years ago, American Liberals, long chagrined by Gallic contempt for American presidents, exulted in electing someone who they believed that the French would admire. Nothing makes the New York Times set happier than Parisian approval. Scroll two years ahead and, Sacre Bleu, the French, who tired of Obama's fiddling while Gadhafi's minions slaughter everyone they can, lead Europe and America into exactly the sort of international activism that our President despises. I'm just guessing but I don't think the French hold Obama in such high regard.

Given the swath of disaster that follows Jimmy Carter's globetrotting diplomacy, it's amazing to me that he still gets tapped for missions. I guess he gets credit of bringing a lasting peace to the Middle East with the Camp David Accords. No, wait. That didn't work any better than his efforts in Haiti. Perhaps he needs the frequent-flyer miles.

The peace-loving government of Iran has acquired a new toy with which they can forcefully advance their love of peace. Anyone who doubts that this rocket is designed to send a nuclear bomb (that they say they are not building) over to Israel is probably sending money to a Nigerian diplomat that he met online, believes their was second shooter in Dallas and that the current administration in Washington is doing all they can to support America's small businesses.

The United Nations has issued another meaningless rebuke to Iran for that country's relentless pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability. America's simultaneous tolerance of rogue Middle Eastern states combined with our recent cold shoulder to the one actual democracy in the region goes a long way to explain why the Iranians will soon be threatening Israel with a nuclear attack. When Israel responds to that threat - as they must - we will have no one to blame but the feckless diplomats at Foggy Bottom who responded to the inane direction coming from the White House.

The right not to be offended...isn't a "right." A Canadian, Mark Steyn, has been brought before three different Human Rights Tribunals for allegedly “insulting Islam.” What began with a fatwa against Salman Rushdie for insulting Mohammad and was dismissed by many as an isolated incident, culminated years later with the assassination of Theo Van Gogh in the streets of Amsterdam for the same offense. In Denmark, cartoonists still fear for their life for having drawn Mohammad in newspaper Jyllands-Posten. Meanwhile in Ireland, blasphemy is now a criminal offence. How can we encourage vigorous debate while being respectful of religious sensibilities?